A removal order is a formal direction issued by the Canada Border Services Agency or the Immigration and Refugee Board requiring a foreign national or permanent resident to leave Canada. There are 3 types of removal orders: departure orders, exclusion orders, and deportation orders. Each carries different legal consequences and potential bars to return. If you have received a removal order, it is critical to act quickly and seek legal advice, as there may be opportunities to appeal, request a stay of removal, or apply for permanent residence on humanitarian or other grounds.
A departure order allows you to leave Canada voluntarily within 30 days without facing penalties. If you do not comply within that period, it automatically becomes a deportation order. An exclusion order typically bars re-entry to Canada for 1 or 2 years, depending on the grounds. A deportation order is the most serious type and carries an indefinite bar from returning to Canada unless you obtain written authorization to return. Removal orders may result from inadmissibility findings based on misrepresentation, criminality, failed refugee claims, or failure to comply with immigration conditions.
At Golden Maple Law, we assist clients at all stages of the removal process. We represent individuals before the Immigration Division, Immigration Appeal Division, and Federal Court in challenging removal orders, requesting stays, or filing appeals where available. We also assist with pre removal risk assessments, applications for permanent residence in Canada, and authorization to return applications. Whether you are facing imminent removal or seeking to reopen a past removal case, we provide urgent, strategic, and legally grounded representation to protect your status and long term future in Canada.
Cessation and vacation hearings are serious legal proceedings initiated to revoke refugee or protected person status in Canada. These hearings are typically brought by the Minister through the Canada Border Services Agency and heard before the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). A successful cessation or vacation order may lead to the loss of permanent residence and removal from Canada. If you have received notice of one of these applications, you should seek immediate legal counsel, as your status and ability to remain in Canada are at risk.
A cessation application alleges that the individual has re-availed themselves of their country of origin’s protection, re-established residency there, or obtained new nationality. A finding of cessation under section 108 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act will automatically result in the loss of permanent resident status. Cessation is not a punitive measure, but rather recognition that refugee protection is no longer needed.
A vacation application alleges that the original refugee claim was approved based on misrepresentation or omission of material facts. If the Board grants a vacation under section 109, the person loses their protected status and becomes removable from Canada.
At Golden Maple Law, we defend individuals in cessation and vacation proceedings by building factually supported, legally sound arguments that respond to the Minister’s allegations. We conduct detailed file reviews, analyze travel history and supporting documentation, and prepare written and oral submissions before the Refugee Protection Division. We also represent clients in judicial review of unreasonable or procedurally unfair decisions. Whether you are at risk of losing your protected status or seeking to defend your permanent residence in Canada, we provide urgent, strategic, and courtroom ready advocacy at every step.
A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is a discretionary document issued to individuals who are inadmissible to Canada but have a compelling reason to enter or remain in the country. A TRP can be issued at a visa office, at a Port of Entry, or inside Canada to a foreign national or foreign worker who would otherwise be denied entry. The key consideration is whether the individual’s need to be in Canada outweighs the risk they may pose. The more serious the inadmissibility, the higher the level of authority required to approve the TRP. In every case, officers must assess whether the presence of the applicant in Canada serves a justifiable purpose and whether any potential risks can be effectively managed.
TRPs are often used by individuals with past criminal charges or convictions, misrepresentation findings, unresolved immigration violations, or medical inadmissibility. They may also be required for applicants with previous removal orders, overstays, or breaches of visa conditions. A TRP may be granted for a short stay or for up to 3 years and may allow for either single or multiple entries depending on the circumstances. It does not resolve the underlying inadmissibility but can serve as a temporary solution for those needing urgent entry or ongoing presence in Canada.
At Golden Maple Law, we prepare TRP applications that are detailed, well documented, and framed to anticipate officer concerns. We assist foreign workers, family members, and professionals who require entry to Canada despite inadmissibility, including those traveling for humanitarian, medical, or business reasons. We also advise clients on pathways to resolve inadmissibility permanently, such as criminal rehabilitation or permanent residence under exceptional grounds. Whether your TRP is being submitted from abroad, at the border, or from within Canada, we ensure your application is persuasive, compliant, and prepared for review at the appropriate decision-making level.
If you have a criminal record outside Canada, you may be considered inadmissible and denied entry even as a temporary visitor. Canada treats criminal inadmissibility seriously, but legal pathways exist to overcome it. Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for criminal rehabilitation or, if you are already in Canada, a record suspension under Canadian law. These applications are essential for restoring your admissibility and long term immigration options.
Criminal rehabilitation is a formal process through which a foreign national with a past conviction can demonstrate that they are no longer a risk to Canadian society. To be eligible, at least 5 years must have passed since the completion of your sentence, including any probation, fines, or driving prohibitions. The application is assessed based on the nature of the offence, your behaviour since the conviction, and evidence of reform. Once granted, criminal rehabilitation permanently resolves your inadmissibility for the offence in question and allows you to enter Canada without requiring a Temporary Resident Permit.
Record suspensions, formerly known as pardons, apply to individuals with convictions inside Canada. A successful record suspension sets aside your conviction record for most purposes, which may support immigration applications or improve eligibility for citizenship. However, a suspension does not erase the conviction and may not automatically remove inadmissibility under immigration law. At Golden Maple Law, we assess your eligibility for both criminal rehabilitation and record suspension, prepare full supporting documentation, and present your case with the legal strength required to succeed. We also represent clients facing urgent entry denials, refused permits due to past offences, or removals based on criminal inadmissibility.
Individuals in Canada or at a port of entry in Canada, such as an airport, land border, or seaport, may make a refugee claim. The Refugee Board (IRB) will determine if you are a convention refugee or a person in need of protection. If your claim is accepted, you may become a protected person and eventually apply for permanent residence. If your claim is refused, you may still appeal or apply for further protection under a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment before facing removal.
At Golden Maple Law, we provide full service representation for refugee claimants at every stage. We assist with filing a refugee claim, preparing evidence for your IRB hearing, lodging an appeal to the RAD, or submitting a PRRA if new evidence arises. We also handle judicial review filings when appeal rights are exhausted or unavailable. Whether you are a claimant navigating procedural complexity or someone appealing a refusal, we craft submissions with legal clarity and strategic precision to protect your rights and mitigate removal risk.
An admissibility hearing is a quasi-judicial process held by the Immigration Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) to determine whether a foreign national or permanent resident is allowed to enter or remain in Canada. These proceedings are initiated when the Canada Border Services Agency or IRCC alleges inadmissibility on grounds such as criminality, misrepresentation, security concerns, or non-compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
At the hearing, a Member of the Immigration Division presides. Counsel for the CBSA presents allegations of inadmissibility. You or your legal representative may challenge those allegations, present evidence or testimony, and cross-examine witnesses. After both sides present, the Member will decide whether you are admissible or inadmissible . The Member may deliver a decision at the hearing or in writing; requested written reasons must be filed within 10 days.
If you are found admissible, you may remain in Canada; the CBSA may appeal that decision to the Immigration Appeal Division. If found inadmissible, a removal order will be issued, such as a departure, exclusion, or deportation order under IRPA. You may appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division if eligible. Ineligible applicants may seek judicial review at the Federal Court.
At Golden Maple Law, we defend clients through every step of the admissibility hearing process. We conduct full file reviews, gather evidence, develop strategic written and oral submissions, and prepare your appeal or judicial review if required. Whether you are defending a permanent resident permit or seeking entry as a foreign national, we provide rigorous, courtroom-ready advocacy to protect your legal rights and future in Canada.
Facing removal from Canada can be a stressful and uncertain experience. Golden Maple Law, your trusted immigration law firm in Toronto, is here to help. The Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) provides individuals who are facing deportation an opportunity to demonstrate that returning to their home country would pose significant risks or dangers.
A PRRA application evaluates your risk of persecution, torture, threats to life, or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if you were to return to your home country. This assessment becomes crucial if your circumstances have substantially changed since your initial refugee claim, or if new evidence supporting your risk has surfaced.
At Golden Maple Law in Toronto, our experienced immigration lawyers provide expert legal assistance with PRRA applications. Our team will:
We understand the seriousness of facing removal from Canada and are dedicated to offering personalized, effective legal representation in Toronto. If you believe you may be at risk upon returning to your home country, contact Golden Maple Law to schedule a consultation and discuss your eligibility for a PRRA application.
Have you previously been removed from Canada or issued a departure order? If so, returning to Canada requires special permission known as an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC). Golden Maple Law, we assist clients who need to navigate this important and often complex application process.
An ARC application assesses whether your circumstances justify permitting your return to Canada, despite a prior removal or exclusion order. Whether your removal was due to immigration violations, criminal inadmissibility, or overstaying, obtaining an ARC is crucial for legal re-entry into Canada.
At Golden Maple Law, our experienced immigration lawyers in Toronto will:
We understand the complexity and sensitivity of applying for an ARC and are committed to delivering compassionate and expert legal representation. If you require an Authorization to Return to Canada, contact Golden Maple Law in Toronto today to schedule a consultation and explore your options.
Being detained by immigration authorities can be a challenging and stressful experience. At Golden Maple Law, we offers expert legal representation and support for individuals facing Detention Review Hearings.
A Detention Review Hearing assesses whether your detention by immigration officials should continue or if you can be released under certain conditions. These hearings are conducted regularly after your initial detention: within 48 hours, then 7 days, and subsequently every 30 days until release.
Our skilled immigration lawyers at Golden Maple Law in Toronto provide comprehensive legal assistance for Detention Review Hearings, including:
We understand the urgency and gravity of immigration detention situations and are dedicated to advocating vigorously for your rights. If you or a loved one is facing a Detention Review Hearing, contact Golden Maple Law in Toronto immediately to schedule a consultation and secure effective legal representation.
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